 | |
| Industry | Clothing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1889; 136 years ago (1889) |
| Founder | Henry David Lee |
| Headquarters | Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
Number of employees | 400 people |
| Parent | Kontoor Brands (2019–present) |
| Website | lee.com |
Lee is an Americanbrand ofdenimjeans, first produced in 1889 inSalina, Kansas. The company is owned byKontoor Brands, a spin-off ofVF Corporation's Jeanswear Division.[1] Since 2019 its headquarters has been inGreensboro, North Carolina,[2] relocated fromMerriam, Kansas.[3] The company states that it is an internationalretailer and manufacturer ofcasual wear andwork wear and that it has more than 400 employees in the United States.[4] InAustralasia, the brand has been owned byPacific Brands since 2007, after it was acquired from Yakka.[5]
The company was formed in 1889 byHenry David Lee as the HD Lee Mercantile Company atSalina, Kansas, producingdungarees andjackets. The growth of Lee was prompted by the introduction of the Union-All work jumpsuit in 1913 and their firstoverall in 1920.[4] Later in the 1920s Lee introduced azipperfly and continued to expand. Around this time, the first children'soveralls line was sold. In 1928 H.D. Lee, founder and president of The H.D. Lee Mercantile Company, died.[6] During the 1930s and 1940s the company became the leading manufacturer of work clothes in the US. In 1944, the Lazy "S" became the official Lee back pocket.Buddy Lee dolls were a promotional item. In 1954, Lee expanded into casual wear. During the 1960s the company expanded to 81 countries and in 1969 was acquired byVF Corporation, becoming a brand.[4] Lee aired its firsttelevision advertisement, which promoted Lee western wear.
In the 1970s Lee shifted its focus from the workwear business and began catering to fashion cycles. Lee created an all-new fit for women under the Ms. Lee label. A youth wear line for boys and girls was introduced. In 1996, the company launchedLee National Denim Day as part ofNational Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Working with theEntertainment Industry Foundation, Lee National Denim Day has raised over $75 million to help fundbreast cancer research programs.[7][8] In 2014, the brand was relaunched in Paris via the Citadium Paris store.[citation needed] In 2019, Lee,Wrangler, Rock & Republic, and VF Outlet were separated from VF Corporation intoKontoor Brands.[1]
In 1981, 240 factory workers inGreenock, Scotland, staged asit-in in protest against plans to move the factory toNorthern Ireland. What was planned as a one-night protest continued for seven months.[9] As of 2005[update], Lee Jeans have been manufactured byArvind Mills, in a number of small factories inChamarajanagar, India. About 60,000 workers produce 5,000 pairs of jeans a day.[10]
In the 1930s "The Great Lee Success Story" advertisements were launched that led to Lee's slogan "The Jeans that Built America".[3]
Within the United States, the company spends more than $40 million per year on advertising. In 2009, Olson was appointed as the lead interactive agency for the American brand and redesigned their website.Barkley Inc. had previously handled interactive advertising for the brand.Arnold Worldwide continues to provide offline advertising services for the brand.[11]
